White Wine, Red Wine

One look will tell you that red wine is different from white wine. Red wine is red or purple in color and white wine is yellow or straw color. But what actually makes these two wines different?

After talking to a few friends, i realized that many people are not aware of the real difference between white and red wine. Contrary to popular belief, the difference between these two wines is NOT that white wine is made from green grapes, and red wine is made from red grapes.

The most important difference between red and white wine is the use, or non-use of the grapes skin when the wines are made. Quite simply, the skin of the grape is first peeled off before making white wines. When making red wines, the skins, seeds, and stems are used and the wine takes on the color and flavor characteristics of the skin. The tannin in the skin of the grape gives red wines an added flavor dimension and allows red wines to develop or age for a longer period than white wines. The tannin acts as a natural preservative.

To understand the term 'tannin' better, just think about a strong cup of tea. That woody taste is tannin. In wine, it can lend a wonderful complexity to a red wine. Generally, red wines are heavier and more complex than white wines. White wines are usually a good place for beginners to start because they are initially more palatable to novices since they often tend to be sweeter.

The types of grapes used for red and white wines are different. There are hundreds of different grapes and each grape has its own color, bouquet and flavor characteristics. Very often different grapes will be blended into one wine.

I should admit that i am no expert whatsoever on wine, but i decided to write a blog on this in an attempt to create some awareness on the differences in origin between white and red wine.